Jon Trace (real name: Michael/Mike Morley) was born in Manchester. Orphaned at birth, he was brought up in care, foster and adoption homes. He became an ITV journalist, presenter and producer, then senior executive director for Endemol TV, and is now executive vice president and chief creative officer, international production, for Sony Pictures Television International. He produced a number of award-winning documentaries, including Murder in Mind about Dennis Nilsen, and scripted the interactive mystery game, Monkeys Skulls & Crosses. Spider (2008) was his first novel and waswritten under his real name. The Venice Conspiracy (reviewed below) was the first book for which he used the pseudonym Jon Trace. He is married with three sons and lives in Derbyshire.